Hayes Bowman Hitchens

Hayes Bowman Hitchens, 68, of Nashville, Tennessee, died unexpectedly due to heart-related issues on December 24, 2025, while surrounded by family and loved ones. Born on November 30, 1957, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayes lived a life shaped by curiosity, adventure, mentorship, and a profound belief in the potential of young people.

From an early age, Hayes was energetic, athletic, and deeply drawn to the outdoors. He found his calling at Camp Deerhorn, founded by his grandfather, Dr. Don Broadbridge, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where he attended as a camper and later served as a long-term counselor, beginning in the 1960s and continuing through the 1980s. Those formative years left a lasting imprint on his life, instilling in him a love for horseback riding, wilderness experiences, and—most importantly—the responsibility and privilege of mentoring young people through challenge and example.

A passionate Alabama football fan, Hayes attended the University of Alabama in the mid-1970s, where he built enduring friendships and lifelong bonds with his fraternity brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon—relationships he valued deeply throughout his life.

In the mid-1980s, Hayes began his professional career at The Lovett School in Atlanta, serving as Director of the Middle School. Through his work with students, Hayes imagined a new kind of outdoor program created specifically for young people—one that emphasized resilience, leadership, confidence, and personal growth through outdoor adventure. That vision became Moondance Adventures, which he founded in 1995. What began modestly grew under Hayes’s leadership into a nationally respected outdoor adventure program that impacted thousands of young people over nearly three decades.

Hayes met his beloved wife, Michael Maxwell Hitchens, of Nashville, Tennessee, on a blind date. Their relationship quickly grew into a devoted partnership, and they were married and made their home in Atlanta in the mid-1990s. Together they grew both a family and a business, relocating first to Asheville, North Carolina, and eventually to Nashville, Tennessee, where they built a life rooted in love, service, and shared purpose.

Hayes’s devotion to Moondance Adventures was a defining feature of his life. For him, Moondance was never simply a program—it was a calling and a community. He had a profound love and respect for the Moondance headquarters team, including its directors, coordinators, and leaders, whom he worked alongside every day and personally handpicked with great care. Hayes believed deeply in the people who carried Moondance forward, trusting them to preserve and protect the unique culture and transformational experience he envisioned. He took immense pride in their dedication and saw their commitment as central to the impact Moondance has had on thousands of young people over the years.

Above all else, Hayes’s greatest joy was his daughter, Hunter, whom he lovingly called his “sunshine.” Their bond was deep and unmistakable. Hayes was her most devoted supporter, celebrating her achievements, encouraging her pursuits, and loving her with a steady pride that defined him as a father.

Hayes was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie H. Hitchens and Joan B. Hitchens. He is survived by his beloved wife, Michael Maxwell Hitchens; his daughter, Hunter Hitchens; his sister, Holly Patton (Lewis); his brothers, Peter Hitchens (Amy) and Ben Hitchens (Ellen); and his beloved nieces and nephews: Madeline Schoenwolf (Tyler), Bowman Hitchens (Kylie), Palmer Hitchens (Emily), Hollis Staub (Matthew), Cooper Sturm, Hayden Hitchens, and Carly Hitchens.

Arrangements are being handled through Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Woodlawn Memorial Park; please visit www.dignitymemorial.com for updated service information as it becomes available and to share condolences. In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing the Hayes Hitchens Scholarship Fund through Moondanceadventures, www.moondanceadventures.com; contributions made in Hayes’s memory will support future students’ ability to participate in Moondance Adventures, with giving details to be shared through Moondance Adventures and the obituary notice.